MVEDA works to attract, expand businesses in Doña Ana County

Doña Ana County 'on the radar' of big electronics manufacturer

By Brook Stockberger

bstockberger@lcsun-news.com @Bstockberger on Twitter

Posted:
08/25/2013 06:46:42 PM MDT

LAS CRUCES >> There's a big project potentially on the horizon.

The Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance reports that an electronics manufacturer wants to locate a new facility and that Doña Ana County at least is on the radar. MVEDA refers to the project as arguably the largest capital investment opportunity in the nation with 3 million square feet of space needed and about 1,600 jobs created with an average salary of $62,500.

"This project probably represents the most competitive project for the U.S. right now," MVEDA reports in an email it sent out to partners. "It is BIG."

Does Doña Ana County have a shot of landing such a project? What about the joint call center/manufacturer operation that could bring 600 jobs or the food processing and distribution facility that could be 300,000 square feet and bring 327 jobs?

That remains to be seen, of course, but the news goes to show what kind of work MVEDA is up to as it is about to enter the third month of its new fiscal year.

"With most of these large companies, these large projects of a national scale, to get some activity and in some cases (have companies) coming to the area and doing due diligence is a great sign," said MVEDA President and CEO Davin Lopez. "The size of some of these projects are unlike anything we've seen in the past six or seven years.

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"It's a good trend to see; you have projects of a large scale looking for a home and that shows more activity taking place," Lopez said. "The challenge is that the size of the infrastructure (needed) is so large that it may be difficult to respond to them."

Still the group believes it has built some momentum. In its recently released annual report, MVEDA summarizes that is has completed what it considers its fourth-best year in the organization's history.

"This follows two successful prior years where on average, over 500 new, economic-based jobs per year have been added to the region," the report states. "Given our relatively small budget compared to competitive communities of equal size, our ability to sustain three successful years in a row, during economic challenging times, is unprecedented."

Terry Jack, president of the High Tech Consortium of Southern New Mexico, said that his group works with MVEDA and he has a very positive view of the economic development group.

"It's the only organization that cuts across city, county and all the other industry focused groups," Jack said. "MVEDA is the only one that pulls that all together. They're in the middle of everything."

Recently, W Silver Recycling, a metal recycling company with locations in El Paso and Albuquerque, was one of multiple businesses that announced it would locate or expand in Santa Teresa. It will be making its "single largest investment in the region," president Lane Gaddy said. He attributes MVEDA as one of the main reasons the company chose southern Doña Ana County.

"We were looking at locations in El Paso and we told Davin that we were interested in Santa Teresa as well," he said.

MVEDA in conjunction with the Border Industrial Association made the move possible.

"Without them strong-arming us, the time line might have been longer," he said. "They really helped."

Recently Lopez attended an event hosted by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, the largest unmanned vehicle related show in the county. MVEDA joined forces with the New Mexico Partnership and the Physical Science Lab from New Mexico State University. Plus companies, like Northwire from Santa Teresa, were along to help sell the area.

"We just completed our first trade show of the year," he said. "We had about 15 meetings set up and helped host an off-site dinner. We're getting better exposure."

MVEDA, which is publicly and privately funded, now has to compete for funding from Doña Ana County. MVEDA reports that the county has issued a request for proposal for economic development services that the organization originally replied to, but will have to do so again.

"All proposals have been rejected for 'ambiguous and inadequate specifications,'" the group said in its email to partners. "We expect a new RFP to be issued that will have clarifying language for the desired services, including marketing, promotion, and business retention services. Thanks to all the partners and stakeholders that testified on our behalf at the county commission meeting."

"We're going down a second route for an RFP," Lopez said. He said there was a good turnout of people, like Jack with HTC, who spoke before the county commission on behalf of MVEDA. "We had absolutely wonderful turnout and testimonials and support."